This school was constructed between 1899 and 1904 and was designed by the architects Perkins and Betton. By the start of the twentieth century, the population of the area was growing ra[idly and a school for the children living here was needed. In 1899 it was a primary school and was an adjunct to the Agassiz School. But by the completion of the building in 1904 the Parkman School was able to expand and be independent.
This school was named for the great historian, Francis Parkman. Parkman’s summer home “Sunnyside” was on the shores of the Jamaica Pond. He was so well-loved that his was the only private house in that area not taken by eminent domain by the City during the construction of the Emerald Necklace. By the unanimous consent of Frederick Law Olmsted and everyone concerned Sunnyside was allowed to remain standing until Parkman died in 1893. Then the Parkman Memorial was erected where his beloved house and garden had stood. It's next to the Pond on Parkman Drive. Parkman graduated from Harvard Law in 1846 and he and his cousin, Quincy Adams Shaw took off to travel the West. Parkman wanted to write the comprehensive history of the French and Indian War and sought first hand knowledge of Native Americans. He published the story of their adventures as The Oregon Trail. Parkman did go on to write the comprehensive histories of the French and Indian wars as well as helping to found the MA Horticultural Society.
Currently, this building houses the Boston Teachers Union School. It is a pilot school, serving K through 8th grade students. It is open to students from throughout the City (but the majority of the students come from the neighborhoods close by). They are a unique teacher-run school (started in 2009) with no principal but lead teachers for the lower and upper school.